Top Moment #3: Women’s Basketball Knocks Off McNeese State

Jul 30, 2013

CORPUS CHRISTI –Throughout the summer of 2013, GoIslanders.com will look back at the best moments and athletic performances from the 2012-13 school year.

Every Thursday, we will bring you one of the top 10 individual performances, with Tuesdays bringing the year's top 10 moments. Be sure to keep tabs on GoIslanders.com throughout the summer to celebrate all the great moments.

Top Moment #3: Women's Basketball Knocks Off McNeese State

With alumni and former Islanders in the stands, the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi women's basketball team put together their best moment of the 2013 season on Feb. 9 against McNeese State at the American Bank Center. The Islanders went back-and-forth with the Cowgirls the whole game until Marquesha Anderson-Sparks capped off a three-point play with 2.3 seconds remaining to lift the Islanders to a 60-59 victory over McNeese State.

The Islanders were paced by a balanced team effort to top the Cowgirls. Nine Islanders finished in the scoring column led by Brandi Huff's 13 points. Ashley Darley, Jessica Jammer, Taryn Gregory and Janae Blount each added eight points apiece. Verne'qua Taylor tallied a season-high eight rebounds to lead the Islanders' glass and Jammer chipped in six. The Islanders notched 26 of their 60 points in the paint and 31 points came from the Islanders' bench.

The Cowgirls took a 26-24 lead into the locker room and then built an eight-point advantage out of the half. However, the Islanders put together an 8-0 run to tie it at 41. Huff, Roberts and Blount all contributed to the run.

The two teams battled until McNeese State built a 55-49 lead on a 5-0 run with three minutes to play. Huff pulled the Islanders within three with a jumper and a free throw before the Cowgirls' Ashlyn Baggett added two from the free-throw line. With the Islanders trailing by five, Blount and Huff both stepped up to the charity stripe to pull the Islanders within one with 13.5 to play. After McNeese State's Caitlyn Baggett tallied two from the line, Gregory added one to cut the deficit to two.

With time running out, Anderson-Sparks picked up the loose ball off a missed Gregory free throw and was fouled on the made layup to tie the game at 59. The junior stepped to the line and finished the three-point play and Ashlyn Baggett's three pointer fell short as time expired.

It was the 2013 Homecoming game at the American Bank Center and the Islanders snapped an 11-game losing streak to pick up their first conference victory of the season.

For all the latest on Islanders Athletics throughout the summer, be sure to follow us on Facebook (GoIslanders), Twitter (@Go_Islanders) and Instagram (@go_islanders).